Mirror with integrated fan
A mirror assembly is described having an integrated fan, which is adapted to be used in an automobile. In some uses, the mirror assembly may be used to watch infants and toddlers and keep them cool with flowing air as needed. In other uses, the mirror assembly may be used to cool off a driver or passenger of a vehicle who has connected the mirror assembly to a visor.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/462,879 filed Feb. 23, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety into this disclosure.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe subject disclosure relates generally to the field of mirrors. In particular, the subject disclosure relates to a mirror with integrated fan.
SUMMARYA mirror assembly having a housing, a mirror and a fan. The mirror may be positioned within the housing, while the fan may be disposed within the housing. The fan may also be adapted to move in relation to the housing. The mirror assembly may also be adapted to connect to a headrest or a front visor of an automobile. In some uses, the mirror assembly may be used to watch infants and toddlers and keep them cool with flowing air as needed. In other uses, the mirror assembly may be used to cool off a driver or passenger of a vehicle who has connected the mirror assembly to a visor.
Various exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures, wherein:
Particular embodiments of the present subject disclosure will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures. As shown in
A button 103, which can be an off/on/fan speed button, controls the operation of the fan 100 within a fan middle housing 108. A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the fan may be capable of operating at a variety of different speeds. Although a button 103 is shown to be disposed directly in the mirror frame 104, the button 103 may be disposed in any other position in the fan mirror assembly 10. Furthermore, the button 103 may be a switch or any other similar structure that allows for controlling operation of the fan 100.
As further shown in
The fan 100 may be positioned at an end of the mirror 109. As shown in
The fan front housing 102 and the fan back housing 114 may be constructed of a variety of different materials, including but not limited to foam, rigid material, fabric, steel, finished wood, cardboard and the like. It is to be understood that the fan front housing 102 and the fan back housing 114 need not be constructed of the same materials. Furthermore, the fan front housing 102 and the fan back housing 114 may be similarly held together by a variety of materials, including but not limited to stitches, wires, plastic, glue, screws, buckles and the like.
A battery housing 119 may be integrated into the back housing 115. On the back housing 115 may be a battery door 116, which is opened to insert or replace batteries which power the operation of the fan 100, secures batteries within a battery compartment in the back housing 115. The power supplied may be provided from various sources, such as solar, a wired plug, etc.
A rotating shaft 107 lies between fan front housing 102 and fan middle housing 108. The rotating shaft 107 may have the fan blades 106 disposed thereon and is covered by the blade cap 105. The rotating shaft 107 is driven by the motor 113, which may be disposed between the fan middle housing 108 and fan back housing 114. The fan back housing 114 is secured in place by back housing 115.
Back housing 115 may have apertures 118 disposed therein for screws, bolts, rivets or the like 117 to secure the back housing 115 to the mirror back housing 112. The fan back housing 114 may similarly have apertures that may align with apertures 118 on back housing 115 to further secure the fan back housing 114 within the back housing 115. The fan back housing 114 may also have a battery door 116 to secure batteries within the battery housing 119 that may be defined within the back housing 115.
In
The flap 226 may also have a secondary securing mechanism 222. This secondary securing mechanism 222 may be capable of fastening to the ring 220, creating a circle that may envelope and be secured to an object, such as a headrest of a car seat.
A wire 228, or other rigid element, may be disposed within the flap 226. This wire may provide further support to the flap 226 to provide enhanced rigidity to the flap 226. The wire 228 may be made of any resilient material, such as thin steel, copper, plastic and the like. Due to its resiliency, the wire 228 may be molded or manipulated by a user to form different geometric shapes. For example, a user may bend the wire at two points in the same general direction to allow the flap 226 to become a base for the mirror assembly to lean against.
It is further contemplated that the fan mirror assembly 10 may be outfitted with a set of louvers (not shown) which are positioned in front of and cover the fan blades 106 and direct air flow in a desired direction. The louvers may be positioned within the fan front housing 102.
In operation, the fan mirror assembly 10 may be attached to various locations, including, for example, the back side of a headrest of an automobile. The mirror 109 may be used by parents or drivers to maintain a constant visual contact with infants or toddlers who are strapped into car seats which are facing the front or rear of the vehicle. The parent or driver can position the fan mirror assembly 10 so that there is a reflected line of sight between the parent and the automobile's rear view mirror, and the fan mirror assembly 10, which shows the face of the infant. Further, the fan mirror assembly 10 is used to cool off the infant by operating the fan to direct air over the face or body of the infant or toddler. The fan 100 operation may be controlled through button 103, and/or remote control by the parent using a standard remote control.
In use, the fan mirror assembly 10 may be used and attached as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,314, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety into this disclosure. The connecting technique and straps described in the incorporated patent may also be implemented in the present subject disclosure.
The fan mirror assembly 10 is not limited to use for infants or toddlers but may also be used by drivers or passengers of automobiles to allow air flow to be directed toward the driver or simply just to allow circulation to occur. This is particularly helpful for drivers who are on road trips or particularly tired or sleepy. The increased air flow by the use of the fan 100 on the fan mirror assembly 10 serve to keep the driver alert during the drive by providing fresh oxygen to the face of the driver. The mirror assembly is particularly useful for professional drivers, such as truckers, tax drivers, police officers, and the like.
The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the subject disclosure. It is understood therefore that the subject disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the subject disclosure.
Claims
1. A mirror assembly, comprising:
- a substantially oval mirror housing comprising;
- a substantially oval mirror frame defining an innermost edge of the mirror housing;
- a substantially oval mirror front housing positioned on an outer edge of the mirror frame; and
- a substantially oval mirror back housing positioned on an outer edge of the mirror front housing and substantially defining an outermost edge of the mirror housing;
- a substantially oval mirror positioned within an interior edge of the mirror frame; and
- a circular fan assembly comprising:
- a circular fan middle housing that contains a fan and is adapted to move in relation to the mirror housing and control a direction of an airflow outward from a front face of the substantially oval mirror;
- a fan back housing; and
- a back housing;
- wherein the circular fan assembly extends through the substantially oval mirror housing, such that an outer arc of the circular fan assembly extends rearwardly from an outermost edge of the back housing and an inner arc of the circular fan assembly extends in from an innermost edge of the mirror frame; and
- a fan operation control button extends in from the innermost edge of the mirror frame.
2. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to connect to a front visor of an automobile.
3. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the mirror housing is adapted to connect to a head rest of an automobile.
4. The mirror assembly of claim 1, further comprising a protrusion on the fan middle housing that pivotably connects to the mirror housing and allows the fan to move in relation to the mirror housing.
5. A mirror assembly, comprising:
- a substantially oval mirror housing comprising;
- a substantially oval mirror frame defining an innermost edge of the mirror housing;
- a substantially oval mirror front housing positioned on an outer edge of the mirror frame; and
- a substantially oval mirror back housing positioned on an outer edge of the mirror front housing and substantially defining an outermost edge of the mirror housing;
- a substantially oval mirror positioned within an interior edge of the mirror frame;
- a circular fan assembly, having a circular fan front housing, a circular fan middle housing that contains a fan, a fan back housing; and
- a back housing, the circular fan assembly extending through the substantially oval mirror housing such that an outer arc of the circular fan assembly extends rearwardly from an outermost edge of the back housing and an inner arc of the circular fan assembly extends in from an innermost edge of the mirror frame; and
- a protrusion on the fan assembly that pivotably connects to the mirror housing and allows the fan to move in relation to the mirror housing and control a direction of an airflow outward from a front face of the oval mirror; and
- a fan operation control button extends in from the innermost edge of the mirror frame.
6. The mirror assembly of claim 5, further comprising a securing mechanism that is adapted to secure the mirror assembly to a front visor of an automobile.
7. The mirror assembly of claim 5, further comprising a securing mechanism that is adapted to secure the mirror assembly to a head rest of an automobile.
8. A mirror assembly, comprising:
- a substantially oval mirror housing comprising;
- a substantially oval mirror frame defining an innermost edge of the mirror housing;
- a substantially oval mirror front housing positioned on an outer edge of the mirror frame; and
- a substantially oval mirror back housing positioned on an outer edge of the mirror front housing and substantially defining an outermost edge of the mirror housing;
- a substantially oval mirror positioned within an interior edge of the mirror frame;
- a circular fan assembly having a circular fan front housing, circular fan middle housing, a fan adapted to blow an airflow outward from a front face of the substantially oval mirror and having a fan back housing; and
- a back housing, the fan assembly extending through the substantially oval mirror housing such that an outer arc of the circular fan assembly extends rearwardly from an outermost edge of the back housing and an inner arc of the circular fan assembly extends in from an innermost edge of the mirror frame; and
- a switch extends in from the innermost edge of the mirror frame to control operation of the fan.
9. The mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein the housing is adapted to connect to a from visor of an automobile.
10. The mirror assembly of claim 9, wherein the mirror housing is adapted to connect to the front visor of the automobile via a securing mechanism that secures the mirror housing to the front visor of the automobile.
11. The mirror assembly of claim 8, wherein the mirror housing is adapted to connect to a head rest of an automobile.
12. The mirror assembly of claim 11, herein the mirror housing is adapted to connect to the head rest of the automobile via a securing mechanism that secures the mirror housing to the head rest of the automobile.
13. The mirror assembly of claim 11, wherein the mirror housing is also adapted to connect to a front visor of the automobile.
14. The mirror assembly of claim 8, further comprising a protrusion on the fan assembly that pivotably connects to the mirror housing and allows the fan to move in relation to the mirror housing and control a direction of the airflow.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 23, 2018
Date of Patent: Jan 16, 2024
Patent Publication Number: 20180236941
Assignee: MUNCHKIN, INC. (Van Nuys, CA)
Inventor: Quinn Michael Biesinger (Los Angeles, CA)
Primary Examiner: Edelmira Bosques
Assistant Examiner: Frances F. Hamilton
Application Number: 15/904,194
International Classification: B60R 11/00 (20060101); B60R 1/12 (20060101); A47G 1/02 (20060101); F04D 29/00 (20060101); B60H 1/00 (20060101); B60R 1/04 (20060101);